Collapsible table unit



Sept. 10, 1935. H L LA FETRA I 2,014,257

COLLAPSIBLE TABLE UNIT Filed Jan. 16, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 F'IG..L

INVENTOR. HARRY L. LA FETRA BY I ATTORNEY.

Sept. 10, 1935. H. LA FETRA 2,014,257

COLLAPSIBLE TABLE UNIT Filed Jan. 16, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.2

- u A x INVENTOR.

HARRY L.LA FETRA ATTORNEY.

Sept. 10, 1935. Li LA E A 2,014,257

COLLAPSIBLE TABLE UNIT Filed Jan. 16, 1955 '4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. HARRY L. LA FETRA ATTORNEY.

Sept. 10, 1935.v H. L. LA PETRA 2,014,257

COLLAPSIBLE TABLE UNIT Filed Jan. 16, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ,51 1 4-5 3 I lo o v 45 I i O 4 7 IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNE Y Patented Sept. 10, 1935 UNITED STAT S ()FFICE 7 Claims.

The invention relates to an article of furniture, and more especially to a combined table and chair unit suitable for many purposes, for example as a card table, dinette or cabaret table, etc.

5 It'hasfor an object the provision of a unit of this nature which may readily be collapsed to compact proportions for convenient storage when not in use, thus rendering the same particularly suitable where space is limited.

l A stillfurther object of the invention resides in the provision of a table which, when folded, will accommodate also the accompanying chairs, the same being located within the leg space of the table-element and the chairs to this end being 15 "also collapsible and of a width equivalent, for example, to the combined width of a chair seat, backand one leg thereof.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a table unit embodying chairs of the 20 aforesaid nature and so constructed that the latter may be either permanently. or removably attached to' the tableunit, as to the respective individual supporting legs thereof.

The invention has for an object, also, the pro- 25 vision of a table unit which may readily be set up *for'use, as by manually pressing upon or pullin'g ona handle to extend the table-supporting element to the required width of the table and then swinging thereover the table top.

30" Still'a'nother object of the invention resides in suchtableunit which, when collapsed, may be stored in association with a further article of furniture if desired.

, In carrying out the invention, four supporting 35 legs are provided, the same being rigidly carried by I a sub-table top element consisting of two separable members to which opposite pairs of legs are" fixedly attached. Means embodying telescopicconnections between'the separable membersare provided for slidably connecting the said members, so that the same may be brought together when theunit is to be collapsed. Over this sub-table element is designed to be brought the .table :top proper-which, when the table is folded 45 or collapsed,-swings downwardly in front of the outer edge of: oneof the separable members. The drawing over of this table top-is effected simultaneously with the separation of the separable ,memberaasthrough flexible connections, such "'as chains, connecting the underside of the said top withv the-underside vof the outer separable member.

A .set offour. chairs, constructed to fold compactly, is. arranged for attachment, either perma- "'nently or removably, to the respective legs of the table unit; and, when the latter is collapsed or folded together, these chairs lie within the space included between the table legs and beneath the sub-top element with the top proper as a foreground. c

The nature of the invention, however, will best be understood when described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the table, fully extended but with the top still in a. vertical position, and r arrows; and Fig. 2 is a similar View taken on the i5 =1 l line 2-4 Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the table in folded position; and Fig. 4 is a rear elevation and Fig. 5 a side elevation thereof.

Figs. 6, 7 and S are fragmentary detail views o of the slide mechanism for the table top.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating the manner in which the table top may be folded over the sub-table portion of the unit.

Figs. 9-11 are respectively a plan, elevation, and 2; transverse section of telescoping channel members for connecting the separable members of the sub -table top element.

Fig. 12 is a plan view illustrating the channels in folded position. d

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary vertical section illustrating the means of attachment of flexible members to the sub-table top; and Fig. 14 is a similar View illustrating the spring connection to the subtable top locking device.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary vertical section illustrating the locking members for maintaining the table in collapsed condition.

Referring to the drawings, the table structure comprises essentially separable end members In 40. and i i constituting a sub -table top element and to each of which is fixedly attached a pair of legs i2 and 53, respectively, while over these members is designed to be brought the table top proper H3. The two separable members it and H are ar- L. ranged to be held together through suitable connecting members iii and ll at either side of the table and which are united by a transverse tie rod it.

These connecting members, which are more particularly shown in Figs. 9-11, inclusive, are of a telescoping nature; and, furthermore, are designed todistend or separate the two separablemembers when the same are released, as hereinafter set forth. To this end, the said members,

which are similarly constructed, comprise, for example, two channel pieces 20 and 2| secured back to back to an intermediate plate 22 which carries the tie rod I8. About the respective channels are mounted table channel pieces 23 and 24, respectively, carrying securing angles 25 and 26, respectively, for attachment to the respective separable members. Respective compression springs 21 and 28 are mounted about guide rods 29 and 30 and are supported in their respective channel pieces, which rods serve also to hold the pairs of cooperating channels together, as by means of perforated angle pieces 3| and 32 attached to the channel pieces 2| and 20. These angle pieces serve, furthermore, as stops to limit the extension of the channel elements. The said springs tend normally to extend outwardly the said table channel elements which are attached to the respective separable members.

By this expedient, when suitable locking means hereinafter set forth are released, the said separable members will automatically separate under the action of said springs. Thus, when the said separable members have their respective inner edges 35 and 36 in contact, as when the table is collapsed, Fig. 3, a latch or hook element 31 carried by the member ll snaps into position over a keeper or pin 38 carried by the member ID. Latch 31 is fulcrumed tomember II as at 39 and is yieldingly urged in the direction of the keeper 38 by a spring 40 attached to the underside of separable member I I, as shown in Fig. 14.

To guide the channel members 23 and 24 when sliding into place, angles 4| and 42 are secured to the respective separable members II and I 0; and when these members are brought together preparatory to collapsing the table, dowels 43 and 44 suitably mounted in the inner edge of one of the said members are designed to fit into corresponding sockets of the other member to secure proper registry of the members and insure ready collapse of the various parts.

When the sub-table element has been extended through separation of the separable members l0 and II, as aforesaid, the top l5 of the table is to be brought over the same for support thereby. This may be effected by slidably mounting said top, for example through a pair of extension members 45 to the table legs 12 of the near separable member, the said top being pivotally connected to the said extension as at 46 so that it may be swung into a horizontal position over the said separable members l0 and H. Flexible connections, as the pair of chains 41 and 48, connect the far separable member II with the table top l5 through a transverse bar 50 connected to said pair of extension members 45. These chains pass over respective pulleys 5| and 52 attached to the underside of separable member I 0.

Furthermore, said extension members 45 are slidably mounted in their respective associated leg members l2 through suitable longitudinal guideways 53 provided therein, as well as in guideways 54 provided in the underside of the table top to accommodate the drop of the said table top to the necessary degree and which is not afforded by the coming together of the separable members of the sub-table top element. Thus, after the latch 31 has released the separable members and the same are forced apart, extension piece 45 with attached top l5 will have been elevated until the channel piece 55 thereof contacts channel 55 of the upper side of member l0-assuming then the broken-line position, Fig.

7*, with pivotal connection 46 clearing the subtable top. The top I5 is then further drawn out manually with the upper part of extension 45 sliding in guideway 54, and then brought down over said sub-table top by pulling the top I5 in the direction indicated by the arrows, Fig. '7, to the horizontal position indicated by the broken lines.

For supporting chairs of the collapsible type and as indicated at 60, each of the legs may be 10 provided with a socket or eye element 6| to receive a pintle or hook 62 or the like fixed to a chair. The chairs are then to be swung inwardly about the said socket as an axis and under the corresponding separable member, the collapsed 15 Width of a chair being substantially of the width of said member. Thereupon, the table top is lifted and swung about its pivotal connection to the extension members 45 and then forced downwardly before the separable member l0, drawing 20 with it the other separable member H until the two automatically look. A pair of spring-urged pieces 63 attached to the respective extension members 45 serve to maintain the said top substantially in a vertical plane when thus located. 25 7.

I claim:

l. A collapsible table unit, comprising two separable end members constituting a sub-table top 7 element, telescoping meansconnecting the two members to permit of the same being brought into contact along their respective inner edges, two pairs of legs, one pair supported by one of the separable members and the other pair supported by the other of the separable members, and a table top pivotally attached to one of the separable members and adapted to be swung over and to be dropped in front of an outer edge thereof.

2. A collapsible table unit, comprising two separable end members constituting a sub-table top 0 =11 element, telescoping means connecting the two I members to permit of the same being brought into contact along their respective inner edges, two pairs of legs, one pair fixedly supported by one of the separable members and the other pair 45 .1;

fixedly supported by the other of the separable members, and a table top pivotally attached to one of the separable members, slidable in the legs of said member and adapted to be swung over and to be dropped in front of an outer edge thereof.

3. A collapsible table unit, comprising two separable end members constituting a sub-table top element, telescoping means connecting the two members to permit of the same being brought into contact along their respective inner edges, 55

two pairs of legs, one pair supported by one of the separable members and the other pair supported by the other of the separable members, means acting to separate the said end members, and a table top pivotally attached to one of the separable members and adapted to be swung over and to be dropped in front of an outer edge thereof.

4. A collapsible table unit, comprising two separable end members constituting a sub-table top element, telescoping means connecting the two members to permit of the same being brought into contact along their respective inner edges, two pairs of legs, one pair supported by one of 70 the separable members and the other pair supported by the other of the separable members, a table top pivotally attached to one of the separable members and adapted to be swung over and to be dropped in front of an outer edge thereon and flexible means connecting the far one of the separable members with said table top.

5. A collapsible table unit, comprising two separable end members constituting a sub-table top element, telescoping means connecting the two members to permit of the same being brought into contact along their respective inner edges, two pairs of legs, one pair supported by one of the separable members and the other pair supported by the other of the separable members, a table top pivotally attached to one of the separable members and adapted to be swung over and to be dropped in front of an outer edge thereof, a pair of chains connected with the far one of the separable members and with the table top, and a pair of guide pulleys mounted on the near separable member and over which the respective chains pass.

6. A collapsible table unit, comprising two separable end members constituting a sub-table top element, telescoping means connecting the two members to permit of the same being brought into contact along their respective inner edges, two pairs of legs, one pair supported by one of the separable members and the other pair supported by the other of the separable members, a table top pivotally attached to one of the separable members and adapted to be swung over and to be dropped in front of an outer edge thereof, and means to lock the two separable members together when the same are in juxtaposed relation.

'7. A collapsible table unit, comprising two separable end members constituting a sub-table top element, telescoping means connecting the two members to permit of the same being brought into contact along their respective inner edges, two pairs of legs, one pair supported by one of the separable members and the other pair supported by the other of the separable members, a table top, extension pieces sliclable in the top and in the legs of one of the separable members, said extension pieces being pivotally attached to the topand adapted to be swung over and to be dropped in front of an outer edge of the said separable member to which it is attached, and flexible means connecting the other of said separable members with said table top.

HARRY L. LA FETRA. 

